Diagnosis Brief
what this complaint usually turns out to be
what this complaint usually turns out to be
Power Window or Door Lock Not Working — What It Usually Is
How real visits for a window or lock problem ended at independent shops across the US — the part actually replaced, how often, and what it cost when it was the only fix.
Window regulator
The single most common outcome — nearly half of these visits when combined with the runner-up
Window regulator $259 – $423
Switch $126 – $344
typical cost when it was the only fix
(parts + labor)
(parts + labor)
| The fix involved | Share of these visits* | Typical cost† | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window regulator | $259 – $423 | $328 | |
| Switch | $126 – $344 | $216 | |
| Glass | $52 – $315 | $169 | |
| Door handle | $124 – $272 | $183 | |
| Module / actuator | $254 – $696 | $413 | |
| Lock / latch | $137 – $449 | $264 | |
| Cables / wiring | $121 – $392 | $225 | |
| Other, rarer causes | smaller shares — window switches, wiring in the door hinge, master switches | varies | — |
*Share of visits whose repair involved this part; combined repairs count toward each part, so shares overlap and don't add to 100%. †Middle half of real invoices when this was the only fix — parts + labor, all vehicle types.
Which one is yours? Listen first
- Window fell into the door — A thunk followed by glass that won't rise is a snapped regulator cable — the defining regulator failure.
- Works from one switch but not the other — A window that obeys the driver's switch but not its own (or vice versa) is a switch problem — cheaper than a regulator, and a common water-ingress casualty.
- Lock clicks but doesn't move — A lock that buzzes or half-moves has a dying actuator.
What to expect from the shop
Expect the door panel to come off — most of the price is labor to open the door. A regulator with motor is the common answer; a switch is the cheap one. If the window fell into the door, the regulator broke; if it just won't respond, ask the shop to test the switch first.
About this data · How to use this brief
Vehicles all makes and models, US fleet
Data confidence High — large sample, stable shares
Records through July 2026, refreshed continuously
Source paid invoices from independent US repair shops
Data confidence High — large sample, stable shares
Records through July 2026, refreshed continuously
Source paid invoices from independent US repair shops
Take it to the shop. It tells you what the likely answers are and what each one should cost — so when the diagnosis comes back, you already know whether the number fits. Vehicle-specific price reports for the common fixes are on fixdozer.com.